Friday, April 18, 2014

Lean Quote: Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for." — William Shedd

Ships
aren't built so they can sit there in a harbor. Ships are built for sailing and
adventures in the sea. There may be risks, but hey, that's what the ship was
made to do. Much like a person can be safe and comfortable with status quo, but
that's not the point of improvement. The point of continuous improvement is to
explore and challenge our understanding, not to mindlessly accept what we have
always done.

Leaders
need to challenge their employees to move out of their comfort zone. You can’t
move forward if you don’t grow and you can’t grow if you never leave your
comfort zone. When possible, give your employees challenging assignments. Help
them prepare by providing them a safe environment to learn from the mistakes
that they are bound to make.

Moving
beyond our comfort zones is how we can best learn and grow. The challenge is to
resist our normal human instinct to seek comfort rather that discomfort. The
key is to continually push beyond the comfort zone and drive continuous
improvement to develop and strengthen your Lean thinking.

So when it comes to getting outside your comfort zone,
don’t mistake magical outcomes for magical processes. Adaptation takes time,
effort, strategy, and determination. But with a solid plan in place and the
courage to take it forward, your results can be extraordinary.

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Tim McMahon is the Founder and Contributor of A Lean Journey Blog. This site is dedicated to sharing lessons and experiences along the Lean Journey in the Quest for True North. The blog also serves as the source for learning and reflection which are critical elements in Lean Thinking.

Tim is a Lean practitioner with nearly 20 years of Lean manufacturing experience. He currently leads continuous improvement efforts for an innovative leader who brings light and data to millions of spaces around the world.

Tim McMahon is a member of ASQ Influential Voices who facilitate discussions regarding quality matters globally.